Our first ever Soup on Sunday event was wonderful. Thank you to Bob and Stephanie for coordinating, for all who came to work, for the support of Golub Corporation and Hannaford Markets, and to our guests. We look forward to our second Soup on Sunday to be held Sunday, January 27th. Tell everyone you know to join us for a warm meal – always FREE!
Reflection for the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds
He called,
they and I answered.
“I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the LORD.”
There are several very good reasons for our Church to have established this special Solemnity, that of the Humble Shepherds.
Our initial thoughts go to the remembrance of those men, who kept watch over their flocks by night, to whom the angel first appeared to announce the good news of the Lord’s birth.
Since God deigned to provide first news of His birth to these men, the Holy Church should rightly honor them and their witness to His coming. The community of the Church, each of us, should also take after their example by listening, responding, and taking action.
Next, our thoughts should go to those men around us that God continues to speak to and through. They work among us as leaders. They draw us to the goodness of the Lord. These are the shepherds among us; they are the bishops, priests, and deacons of our Holy Church.
What does it mean to be such a shepherd?
Like the shepherds on that hillside, today’s shepherds must listen. Listening is difficult, especially if the one speaking to you doesn’t use the phone, Facebook, E-mail, texting, or smoke signals. His word comes in very subtle ways, and they seem easy to set aside and ignore. Yet, if we dare to listen, we will hear Him speaking to us, setting forth a vital mission and challenge that we need to take on.
Like those shepherds, today’s responded and went. They left everything they thought they might be behind. They went to be what He wants them to be. Whether drafted, or going voluntarily (even reluctantly sometimes), they still chose to respond. They didn’t sit on the hillside wondering, “What if?†They didn’t miss the chance.
Also like the shepherds that went that night, they took something away with them, the experience of meeting the Lord who challenges us, who supports us, who is our best friend and confidant. They met Him and were changed in that meeting. They then took what they learned, and with the Lord’s help went out on mission, to build the Church, to gather co-workers, and to build family and community.
They lead because they have heard and seen abundantly. They tell others, many of who and astonished and do not accept their word. Those that do hear, who may also be astonished at first, but who then follow by listening, responding and taking action themselves are God’s witnesses in the world.
See & Experience the Bible Like Never Before
The Bible is an epic five-week, 10 hour television mini-series premiering March 3, 2013 on the History Channel from Emmy Award winning husband and wife team, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. For two hours each Sunday night millions of viewers will see the Bible from Genesis to Revelation come to life in a way never before seen. The final episode of the series will air on Easter Sunday and will feature the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Christmas Message from the Central Diocese United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Dear Sisters,
With the Advent season upon us, we prepare in great anticipation for the celebration of our Lord and Savior’s birth. The Central Diocesan Board of the United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament extends its greetings to you, your families, and parish for a joyous season of peace and happiness.
As is tradition, we share with you the opłatek wafer in the spirit of friendship and caring. Please convey our best wishes to your pastor, your entire parish family and all of our society members including those who may be ill or unable to leave their homes at this time.
We all pray this Christmas season will bring peace and harmony throughout the world and ask our Lord to guide us in helping to spread that peace to our parishes and communities. May you all continue to do God’s work happily and in good health throughout 2013!
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
May God Bless You Always,
Kathy Cortazar
President, Central Diocese ANS
Services cancelled for December 27th
Services for the Feast of St. John are cancelled for December 27th due to inclement weather. The blessing of wine will be held Sunday, December 30th.
A Christmas prayer and poem for you
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. —Isaiah 9:5
Lord Jesus, as we gaze upon You, sleeping peacefully in the manger, we feel a deep peace radiate from You. A holy calm fills our hearts. You have kept Your promise, You are here, with us now.
Lord Jesus, you were not afraid to come to us; help us to be not afraid in coming to You. Give us Your deep inner peace that we might impart joy, hope, and courage to all we encounter. Open our hearts to see You more clearly, receive You more deeply, and follow You more willingly. Increase our capacity to give and receive Your love. May this Christmas Day and Season warm our hearts all year.
Untitled by Cyprian Kamil Norwid
Jest w moim kraju zwyczaj,

że w dzień wigilijny,

przy wejściu pierwszej gwiazdy

wieczornej na niebie,

ludzie gniazda wspólnego

łamią chleb biblijny,

najtkliwsze przekazując uczucia

w tym chlebie.
It is the custom in my country,

that on Christmas Eve,

at the first star’s appearance

in the eveing sky,

people as one

break biblical bread,

and with great love share all they feel

in this bread.
Christmas Reflection
Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
Here we stand, at the manger, at the answer.
We have been inundated by the negatives of the world, particularly over the last several weeks, even in the last 24 hours, but here we stand, before the answer.
In this decrepit, shoddy stable, the answer came to us. The answer came with a one way ticket. The answer, this little baby, came with a one way ticket and brought a new dawn.
The one way ticket is for God intervening, providing us with the way from darkness and sin to light and life. He came to save – Jesus – the name that means God saves. God has come to save His people that are you and me, all of us.
The one way ticket is for God who promised He would come to save, not just temporarily, or for a short time, but forever. He came to stay with us, and in us, as the answer.
This saving work, this answer continues among us. He is here, in this small parish, on a small street. He is in our big and welcoming hearts – the heart of Jesus which we reflect. He is in our community. He is in the many blessings we have received, and the struggles and work we face together. He is in the beauty of our children and the wisdom of our elders. The answer is in Him and His promises – that are for us – here and now.
The answer is among us. God is among us, with us, here to stay. Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you for this holy night. Amen.
Christmas Wishes
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
If you happened to see our Christmas advertisement in the Schenectady Gazette you would note the sentiment expressed there: May His dawning break down all barriers and bring us peace.
Christmas is a recollection, a memory of what happened over 2,000 years ago, and a new dawning of that moment. In that moment 2,000 years ago we saw the incredible love our God holds for us. He withheld nothing from us, and gave Himself for our benefit. This Christmas we face the stable, and the need to reconnect, to re-realize the incredible power of God’s love. We cry out for that new dawn, and behold; it is within our grasp. Jesus didn’t come and go in the span of 33 years, from Christmas to the Ascension, but remains with us, steadfast by our side.
This Christmas we face a day that offers the new and perfect, the peaceful. We resolve to be our better selves with the help of His grace. His new dawning calls us to become the best of what Christians can be. Our Christian life, our baptismal call, is not to foster dissension or separation, but to be bearers of His new dawn each and every day. Our relationship to our Holy Church is not about religious affiliation, but about life in a community that helps us to be the new dawn of Christ every day, the light that will bring peace between people, that will break all barriers.
We have had an incredibly beautiful and blessed year in our little parish. Friends new and old have gathered to be the new dawn for each other, our neighborhood, and our wider community. In this work we continue to break down barriers and bring peace. We are that small church on a small street with a big and welcoming heart. The new dawn continues to this day, here, among us.
I wish and pray that this Christmas brings you all the joys of His new dawning. On behalf of the Parish Committee and myself, I wish you the most blessed Christmas season and look forward to seeing you as we join together to face the new dawning of Jesus into our lives and our community.
Rev. Deacon James A. Konicki
Bible Study for the Fourth Week of Advent and the First Week of Christmas
- 12/23 – Exodus 15:23-25 – Lord, when I was most thirsty You came to save me. Thank you.
- 12/24 – Philippians 4:19 – Lord, You promised me Your help whenever I call. Lord, make me strong in faith by Your grace.
- 12/25 – Job 42:2 – Lord Jesus, You came to fulfill Your Father’s promise and to save me from my sins. I praise You for Your great mercy, and for offering Yourself up for me.
- 12/26 – Jeremiah 32:17 – Father, through Your Word, Your Son, You created all things. Thank you for creating me and granting me the gifts I need to fulfill Your will.
- 12/27 – Isaiah 55:11 – Father, Your Eternal Word came to save me. Grant that I may continue to study Your word and will for me.
- 12/28 – Luke 1:36-37 – Father, Your ongoing miracles exist all around me. Grant me the grace to recognize Your great works and wonderful gifts. Help me to be thankful for them.
- 12/29 – Luke 18:27 – Lord, help me to look to You first in difficult times, placing my reliance on You Who can accomplish all things.
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, to us it seems impossible that in Your power You chose to love us and come to us. Thank you.
The Eighth Advent O Antiphon: Why marvel ye at me?
The O Antiphons are said before the Magnificat at Vespers in the last seven days of Advent. An additional antiphon dedicated to the Blessed Virgin was added in some English Churches and by certain religious orders during medieval times. The original seven antiphons are moved back by one day so this antiphon could be prayed on December 23rd.
O Virgin of virgins,
how shall this be?
For neither before was any like thee,
nor shall there be after.
Daughters of Jerusalem,
why marvel ye at me?
That which ye behold is a divine mystery.
Mary drags us to her Son, Jesus. Yet we resist her.
She points to Him. She disappears into the background for Him. She gives up the ‘normal’ life she could have had, for Him. She suffers for Him. She follows Him and serves Him — not as the glorified maiden, but as a maidservant.
I am the handmaid of the Lord.
Her action, work, love, and dedication are theologized to such an extent that we miss her humanity. Her simple humanity submitted itself fully to the Lord. Trusting, not knowing. Hearing, not debating. Serving, not bemoaning honorifics.
Would that we take her at her word: Why marvel ye at me? Would that we follow her example all the more closely. Would that we allow ourselves to be carried away, subsumed fully by the mystery of the Incarnation. Would that we say with her,
Be it done unto me according to Thy word.